Prior mounaineering experience required; One should have glacier travel experience, solid cramponing and rock climbing skills up to 5.6 YDS. Continuous movement in exposed terrain should not be a problem. Elementary rope handling skills such as tying in, rappelling and belaying are required.

Excellent physical fitness; you should be able to hike or climb for more than six hours with a pack varying from 20 to 40 pounds and ascend 4,000 to 5,000 feet of vertical gain per day for up to a week.

These peaks are famous for a reason. So much has been written about the Eiger, the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc - all have been climbed many times…and yet the allure remains. When you arrive in Zermatt, Grindelwald and Chamonix, you will know why. We will climb via the Hornli ridge, the Gouter ridge and the Mittelegi ridge, but depending on conditions and client skills other routes are feasible. It must be said that this ten day program is ambitious and will provide you with a large amount of “mountain time”. Excellent physical condition and prior acclimatization are large contributors to the success of our goals.Suggested Itinerary:Day 1 We will meet in Grindelwald at 8 a.m. in front of the train station. We will take the train up to the Jungfraujoch and climb the Monch (4,000 meters). This ascent is quite basic, but serves as an excellent acclimatization climb in a spectacular environment. After the climb we return back to Grindelwald for a good night of sleep.Day 2We will take the same train up to the Eismeer Station and go for one of the most spectacular hut approaches in the Swiss Alps. The Mittelegihut is situated on the West Ridge of the Eiger. It is wild! You will know what we mean when you see it.Day 3Predawn start. The exposure is very much present all day. The climbing is never really hard, but it will get your attention. The entire traverse of the Eiger (3,960 meters) will take about 7 hours and we will end up at the Jungfraujochstation. A good night of sleep in Grindelwald will get us ready for the Matterhorn section.Day 4This is a transfer day. We will travel to the southern crest of the Alps and enjoy Zermatt for the rest of the day.Day 5After a mellow start, we hike up to the Matterhorn hut and then go check out the route entrance.Day 6This is summit day of the Matterhorn (4,478 meters). When all goes as planned it should only take us 5-7 hours. We’ll return back to Zermatt and spend the night there one more time.Day 7Another transfer day. We will drive to Chamonix via the beautiful Col de la Forclaz and get settled in Chamonix.Day 8The approach to the Tete Rousse hut should not take that long. That is ok, because the Mont Blanc summit day is plenty big.Day 9Fully acclimatized, we will climb Mont Blanc (4,807 meters), the highest peak in the Alps climbing the Grand Couloir to the Dome de Gouttet and the Valot Hut. From there the summit is in good striking distance. This day is not as technical or exposed as the other peaks, but the bulk of the mountain makes for a physical day. We should be back in Chamonix in the late afternoon and there should be enough time for a beer (or two).Day 10Rest, weather and/or extra day.Please be aware that this itinerary is subject to change due to weather and general climbing conditions.

Ski and Mountain Service is our retail specialty store. It has been located in North Bend, WA since 1999.

The past trips and courses have had a large influence on what we sell. Many of our Pro Guiding customers come on trips and courses with gear they purchased from our store. Not only do we want our clients to have the right gear for the job; we also receive direct feedback from them while they are using it in the field. Trust us - if the gear does not work - we won't sell it.

WHERE SHOULD I FLY INTO? YOU CAN FLY INTO GENEVA AIRPORT OR THE ZURICH AIRPORT. ZURICH IS A BIT CLOSER, BUT GENEVA WORKS FINE AS WELL.

HOW DO I GET FROM THE AIRPORTS TO GRINDELWALD? BOTH OF THE AIRPORTS FEATURE A STATE OF THE ART TRAIN STATION RIGHT BY THE AIRPORT. TRAINS LEAVE IN EVERY DIRECTION EVERY HOUR. FROM GENEVA YOU WOULD HAVE TO CATCH A TRAIN TO BERN, FROM THERE TO INTERLAKEN AND FROM THERE TO GRINDELWALD. FROM ZURICH YOU WOULD TAKE THE TRAIN TO BERN, THEN TO INTERLAKEN AND FROM INTERLAKEN TO GRINDELWALD. TRAVEL TIME FROM THE AIRPORTS TO THE HOTEL IN GRINDELWALD IS ABOUT 3 TO 4 HOURS WITH TRANSFERS.

WHERE DO WE STAY THE NIGHT BEFORE THE TRIP AND IS IT EASY TO FIND? WE WILL HAVE RESERVATIONS FOR YOU AT A CONVENIENT HOTEL. WE WILL COMMUNICATE HOTEL LOCATION AND TRAVEL DIRECTIONS TO YOU.

WHAT IS THE EASIEST WAY TO GET TO ZERMATT AFTER THE EIGER CLIMB? YOU WILL BE WITH A GUIDE WHO WILL ORGANIZE THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FOR YOU OR WE WILL HAVE A CAR AT OUR DISPOSAL.

WHERE WILL WE STAY IN ZERMATT? WE HAVE GOOD FRIENDS IN ZERMATT WHO OWN THE HOTEL CITY. CHRISTOPH AND ANJA ARE AVID OUTDOOR PEOPLE THEMSELVES (CHRISTOPH IS A MOUNTAIN GUIDE AS WELL) AND THEIR SMALL HOTEL WILL BE A WELCOME RESTING SPOT AFTER THE MATTERHORN CLIMB. www.cityzermatt.ch

HAVE YOU GUIDED THE MATTERHORN BEFORE? YES, MARTIN HAS GUIDED THE MATTERHORN ABOUT 20 TIMES AND RINALDO HAS GUIDED IT MORE THAN THAT ON MULTIPLE ROUTES.

WHAT IF THE WEATHER DOES NOT COOPERATE? THAT IS A POSSIBILITY. ALL WE CAN DO IS OUR PART BY BEING PREPARED. SINCE WE ARE FROM THE AREA, WE HAVE MANY ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS, WE HAVE TRANSPORTATION AND THE LOCAL KNOWLEDGE. WE WILL BE MOBILE. YOU UP YOUR CHANCES OF SUCCEEDING ON THE MATTERHORN BY ESSENTIALLY BEING PREPARED TO CLIMB IT RIGHT AWAY IF YOU HAVE TO, MEANING YOU DO NOT TREAT THE FIRST FOUR DAYS AS A LEARNING HOW TO ALPINE CLIMB PHASE. A PERSON WHO IS FIT, CAN GET READY TO BE GUIDED UP THE MATTERHORN IN A FEW DAYS, BUT THIS MIGHT BE THE WINDOW WHERE THE WEATHER IS GOOD.

AS EXAMPLES FOR GREAT PREP CLIMBS, PLEASE LOOK AT OUR NORTH CASCADES PROGRAMS LIKE THE CLASSIC NORTH FACE ROUTES OR THE MIXED MOUNTAINEERING COURSE.

I SEE THAT YOU ARE DOING MONT BLANC LAST. WHY IS THAT?THE MONT BLANC ASCENT IS PHYSICAL, BUT NOT THAT TECHNICAL. WE SHOULD BE WELL ACCLIMATIZED BY THEN, BUT MIGHT BE A BIT FATIQUED. THIS IS WHY THE DETAILPROGRAM SUGGESTS THE CLIMBS THAT REQUIRE A BIT MORE CONCENTRATION FIRST. WE DO STRESS THAT THE ITINERARY IS MOST AND FOREMOST DICTATED BY WEATHER AND GENERAL CONDITIONS. THIS MEANS THAT THE ORDER OF ASCENT COULD CHANGE. EFFECTIVELY, THERE IS NO WARM UP PERIOD TO THIS WEEK IF THE WEATHER IS ON OUR SIDE. GOOD PREPARATION IS ESSENTIAL.

SHOULD I TIP MY GUIDE? AND HOW MUCH SHOULD I TIP THEM? Although tipping is not a requirement it is considered standard practice in the guiding industry and is appreciated by our guides. We generally recommend roughly 10%-15% of your course or trip cost or flat price tip that you are comfortable with.

Related Trips

Ski off the two highest peaks in the Alps. Mont Blanc, 4808 meters to Chamonix, 1030 meters; Pointe Dufour of the Monte Rosa, 4634 meters to Zermatt, 1600 meters. The vertical drop from the summit of Mont Blanc and Monte Rosa to the towns of Chamonix and Zermatt are enormous. We will attempt to ski from these summits in some of the most spectacular scenery the Alps have to offer.

Pico de Orizaba (18,491 ft / 5636 m) is the highest point in Mexico and the third highest point in North America. This is a popular mountaineering objective on its own. We also propose doing what we’re best known for – skiing right off the summit to the toe of the Jamapa Glacier! This trip timed to coincide with the end of the storms that brings Orizaba most of its snow. If you are looking for a great way to introduce yourself to high altitude climbing, this is it.
This trip can run either as a mountaineering or ski mountaineering trip. Please inquire upon sign-up.

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